Minnesota Expo: Headliner for each Team

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We give you who we thought was the best player on each of the teams at the Minnesota Expo when I got a chance to watch.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Team 1: [player_tooltip player_id='2574739' first='Ibrahim' last='Ali'] of Minnesota Prep (Sr). Ali is one of the guys that competed at this event. His team was the first I saw walking in and his rebounding, shot contesting and floor run completely out played and out worked the high school kids. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Team 2: [player_tooltip player_id='1874936' first='Willis' last='Crudup'] of Osseo (Sr). One of the better ball pressure and ball pushing players I saw on the day. Crudup was surely a name that I took home with interest to see how his winter goes. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Team 3: [player_tooltip player_id='2447540' first='Jayden' last='Schultz'] of Browerville (Jr). Jayden is one of the more explosive players we saw at the event scoring at the rim consistently. A player of note going forward that I think could have an excellent upperclassmen career plus Jayden ran the floor and defended. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Team 4: [player_tooltip player_id='2493846' first='Luke' last='Hill'] of Waconia (Jr). Hill surely caught the eye with his floor run, finishing, and active play at forward. A player with potential that will be interesting to see this winter and he was one of the guys that worked harder at this event.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Team 5: [player_tooltip player_id='1574216' first='Azayah' last='Washington'] of St. Cloud Apollo (Sr). Washington was one of the highest rated players at the event and everything about the way he finished and scored was expected from a guy that scored 30+ a game last season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Team 6: [player_tooltip player_id='2103381' first='Marcus' last='Horton'] of Bloomington Jefferson (Sr). Horton is a player that many of us expect to have a big senior season and based on this weekend, he is off to a great start in 2024-25. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Team 7: [player_tooltip player_id='2575650' first='Omar' last='Whittaker'] of Richfield (Sr). The last we saw Omar he was scoring just under ten a game at Cristo Rey. Based on what we saw this past weekend he should be able to help Richfield be even better this year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Team 8: [player_tooltip player_id='1574215' first='Abu' last='Keita'] of Park Center (Sr). When [player_tooltip player_id='1574215' first='Abu' last='Keita'] is talked about for All Conference first team, All Section first team, All State, and maybe a guy we speak on in the Race For Mr. Basketball, don't be surprised!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Team 9: [player_tooltip player_id='1574223' first='CJ' last='Armstrong'] of Richfield (Sr). This was one of the easiest picks ever. Armstrong's first game was full of high percentage, big number scoring plays. Guys usually struggle to stop Armstrong, in this scenario it was nearly impossible.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Team 10:  [player_tooltip player_id='1574214' first='Temi' last='Omotoyinbo'] of Park Center (Sr). There was just too much agility, explosiveness and strength to Temi compared to the rest of the guys on the floor. He had 30 points on 14 of 22 shooting the game I saw. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Team 11: [player_tooltip player_id='2115657' first='Gavin' last='Roderick'] of Alexandria (Jr). If this young man puts together what we saw this weekend within the team concept at Alexandria, he could help the Cardinals be even better than we think they will be. He was 12 of 13 from the field the game I saw.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Team 12: [player_tooltip player_id='2575638' first='Izayah' last='Cook'] of Sauk Rapids-Rice (Soph). Cook had some all around great numbers rebounding, pushing and getting a lay-up/dunk or an easy pass to a transition runner as defenders jogged at nine percent effort. The potential of Cook is very high.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Team 13: [player_tooltip player_id='2575629' first='Brayden' last='Sturm'] of Springfield (Jr). I did not see this team but I thought this was a great chance to note that Sturm averaged 19 points, seven boards, five assists and three steals a game last year as a sophomore as team MVP and all league player.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Team 14: Connor Raliegh of New Richmond, Wisconsin (Sr). This was another hard working player that we wanted to note for his pressure, floor run, ball movement and finishing with touch as well. A good all around player. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Team 15: [player_tooltip player_id='1559916' first='Korde' last='Roseman'] of Brainerd (Sr). Korde is a 40 percent area shooter at the arc with quality form plus when he has a couple steps to the rim with a lane in front of him there is some pop to him. But mostly what has caught my eye with Korde is the way he gets a step on a guy and can control that player to his finish.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Team 16: [player_tooltip player_id='1617786' first='Nigel' last='Caldwell'] of Park Center (Sr). The high flying floor run of Caldwell has been one of the stories of the last 3-4 months. He scored eight a game for Columbia Heights last year and has a chance to step into that Ari Gooch role this year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->